Railway-switch



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet i.

(3. R. DAVIS, J. P. ESSLBR 82; P. DE LONG. RAILWAY SWITCH.

tented Sept. 4, 1888.

SohnT ssterfij eter sLlxm (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. R. DAVIS, J. F. ESSLBR & P. DE LONG. RAILWAY SWITCH.

No. 388,842. Patented Sept. 4, 1888-.-

Chum-Lela; g, lsourbs, John'REssLm1- Peffiu: Balm 2.

Unirnn Starts PATENT @rricn.

CHARLES R. DAVIS, JOHN F. ESSLER, AND PETE-R DE LONG, OF ST. PETER, MINNESOTA.

RAILWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,842, dated September 4, 1888,

Application filed October 6, 1887. Serial Noflfilfiilfi. No modem we do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invcntion,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

' to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invent-ion relates to that class of railway-switchcsin which the connection between the main and the side tracks is made by means of a movable short rail in place of the frog commonly uscd,and in which the movable rail is so connected with the switch-stand, and thereby with thcswitch-rails, that as theswitclr rails are moved one way or the other to connect with the main or the side tracks the movable rail is thrown into such a position as to form part of an unbroken line of rail.

The object of the invention is to do away with the use of frogs to form a connection between the main and the side tracks and to form a continuous line of rail in which the parts are as closely united at the switch as in thejoint between any two adjacent rails of the track; and the improvement consists, principally, in the construction and arrangement of the movable rails, the manner in which they areretaincd in place, and the means by which they are operated in connection with the switch-stand and switclrrails; also in the construction and arrangement of the several parts in detail, as hereinafter set forth.

The invention is illustrated in the accom' pauying drawings, in which- Figure l is aplan view of a portion of the main track, switclrrails, and side tracks pro vided with movable switclrrails and their connections constructed and arranged in accordance with our improvements. Fig. 2 is aside view of the connection between the switchstand and the movable switch-rails. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of one of the short movable switclrrails, showing the manner in which it is pivoted in place and the chair upon which its free end moves. Fig. at is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a dctaii view of the chair upon which the free end of the movable switch-rai1 slides to form a continuous rail in connection with the main or side tracks; and Fig. 6 is a detail View of the means for connecting the movable rail with the switch-stand and with the switch-rails.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

\Ve have shown in the drawings our improvemcnts as used in connection with a double switch, in which it is necessary to use 6 three of the movable rails; but the invention may be used in precisely the same manner with but one of the movable rails when only a single switch is desired. 7

In the drawings, A A represent the switchrails constructed and arranged in the ordinary manner, except as to their connection with the switch'stand, which will be hereinafter described and explained.

13 B are the rails of the main track, and O C 7 and D D the rails of the two side tracks, respcctively.

E represents the movable rail used between the rails of the main track to connect and disconnect the inner rails of the side tracks, 0 and D, with each other.

F F represent the movable rails used in connecting and disconnecting the inner rails, (3 and D, of the side tracks with the rails B B of the main track.

The switch-rails A A are tied together and slide in the ordinary manner, but are not moved directly by the movement of the upright rod and crank of the switch-stand, as in the ordinary switch. The switch-stand G itself may be mainly of any preferred construction, con: sisting of an upright crank-rod, a, mounted ina suitableframeworkand provided with a crank handle for operating; and means for locking in any required position. The switch-stand is lo- 9 cated at the side of the track opposite the movable rail E, with which its upright crank shaft a is connected by the red I) similar to the ordinary switch-rod. Upon the upright shaft aof the switchstand, and justabove the crank of the 100' same, to which the end of the rod 1) is attached,

are two sheaves, c (I, so constructed as to receive and hold firmlyin place without slipping the band-chain e, by means of which connec- 5 tion is made between the switch-stand, the switch-rails A A, and the movable rails F F. Opposite the movable ends of the switch-rails A A is a stand, H, in which is mounted ashort upright crankshaft, f, carrying a sheave, 9, similar to the sheaves c d on the shaft of the switchstand. To the crank of this shaft fis connected the rod h, by which the switch-rails A A are operated to connect and disconnect them with the main or side tracks.

Opposite the free ends of the movable rails F F is another stand, I, similar to the stand'H, and upon which are mounted a similar crankshaft, 1', and sheave j, thesaid crank being connected with a rod, K, by means of which the movable rails F F are operated.

The sheaves f and j are of the same construction as the sheaves ad on the shaft of the switch-stand, and are operated in connection therewith by means of a rod and chain-bands,

e a, one operating the sheavef from the sheave c, and the other operating the sheavet' from the sheave (I.

As the whole movement of the crank-shaft of the switch-stand a in the operation ofopening and closing the switches is never more than one-half of a revolution, the greater part of the connect-ion between the two sets of sheaves is made by means of rods Z Z, connected at each end by means of the ehainbands 3 5 passing around the sheaves. By this arrangement most of the sagging that would take place if an entire chain were used is prevented, and means are also thereby provided whereby the chain-band may be tightened, if necessary or 40 desirable, by means of an ordinary swivel and screw link upon each of the rods Z l. It is necessary that there should be means for tightening the band upon each side of the same between the sheaves, as otherwise, the chain 5 being immovable upon the sheaves, a tightening of one side alone would tighten only that side of the band, leaving the other side as before.

As it is necessary in order to make the proper connections between the several rails that the movable rails F F and E should move in the opposite direction from the movement of the switch-rails A A, the crank-shaftsi and a, by means of which the movable rails F F and 5 E are operated, are set in the opposite direction from the crank f, so that though the several crank -shafts, and consequently the sheaves, rotate in the same direction by the operation of the crank-shaft a of the switch- (0 stand, yet the rails F F and E are moved in the opposite direction from the rails A A. In other words,the several cranks are so arranged that when the cranks a and t turn toward the track the crank f, being set half a revolution ahead of the others, turns away from the track.

The movable rails E and F F are of the same general construction and mounted in the same manner. A description of the movable rail E and its adjacent parts will suffice to show this feature of our invention.

At the place where the two inner rails of the side tracks have approached so nearly together that the end of the point y is of the width of the tread of a rail, the movable rail E is pivoted upon a chair of the following construction: One end of the chair K is made of the usual form, having a base-plate which is secured to the ties and provided with flanges to receive the ends of the point formed at the junction of the two rails, holding the same permanently in position. The other portion of the chair, upon which the movable rail is pivoted, is a flat metal plate somewhat thinner than the remainder of the base'plate. The middle part of the thicker portion of the base and underneath the end of the rail-point is cut away in a semicircular form, as at m, and its curved edge is undercut or beveled to re ceive a semicircular plate with its edge beveled in the opposite direction, as at a, so as to form. a dovetail-joint. Through the center of the circle upon which the circular plate and aperture are described passes a bolt, 0, upon which as a pivot the plate turns in the aperture. To this plate a the rail E is secured by flanges of the usual form, the parts at, a, and 0 thus forming a hingejoint for the rail E. The parts of the hinge are held in position from displacement by the bolt 0, the dovetailed form of the parts, and by the rail-point g, which overlaps the hinge to the center of the pivot o. The rail E may abut closely against the rail-point, its movement being but very slight, though it may be set a little away from the point, or its edges may be beveled to prevent binding when moved. As the whole movement of the end of the movable rail E is ordinarily not more than ten inches and its length about three feet, the joint may be sufficiently open to turn freely without making any pcrceptible break in the rail. The length of the movable rails E and F F will be proportioned to the sharpness of the curve of the side tracks.

To prevent the free ends of the movable rails E and F F, as well as the switch-rails A A, from jumping or from being raised above theirproper level by an accumulation of gravel, snow, ice, or the like underneath, the plate or chair upon which the disconnected ends of the rails are fixed are provided with an upwardlyprojecting flange, 1), Figs. 3 and 4, dovetailed in form with its broadest edge up. Upon the plate and with a dovetailed groove, q, into which the flange 19 fits, slides a plate, 1', to which the free ends of the movable rails or the switch-rails are secured. This sliding way is slightly curved in form, the center of curvature in each case being the point upon which the movable rail turns. The end of the movable rail is thus held in position vertically, while it is allowed to move freely in a lateral direction.

In order to prevent the clogging of the slid ing way by any foreign substance, as gravel,

snow, 5120., the ends of the plate in which the groove q is out are beveled in all directions, so as to present a chisel-shaped edge to each side of the flange p, thus throwing aside any obstruction to the free lateral movement of the movable rail.

.Ve claim as our invention-- 1. The switch-stand G, having crankshaft a, sheaves c and (2, stands II I, having sheaves fi,chain-band e, connecting said sheaves, rods 1) h 7;, switch-rails A A, and movable rails E F F, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. The main track B B, side tracks, 0 G and D D, respectively, switch-rails A A, and lDOV- able rails E and F F, in combination with the switch-stand G, crankshaft a, mounted there in, sheaves c (I, mounted on said shaft, stands II I, having cranleshatts and sheavesfand 2', respectively, mounted thereon and connected with the movable rails E FF and switch-rails A A by rods 3) h 7:, and the band-chain (2, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

3. Ina l'fillWfiYSWltCh, a movable switchsection pivoted or flexibly mounted at one end to form connection with the diverging rails of a main track and side tracks, a plate attached to the free ends of the rails of said switch-seeiion having a dovetailed groove cut in the undcr side thereof, said groove moving upon a similarly-shaped upwardly-projecting flange formed upon a plate permanently secured in position, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

a. In a railway-switch, the movable rail E, having flangepiate a secured to the under side of the end thereof, in combination with the chair K, of the form described, having aperture in, fitting said flange-plate, pivot 0, and the rail-point y, overlapping said flangeplate, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

In combination with a movable rail in a railway-switch, a plate attached to the free end of the rail on the under side thereof, having a dovetail-shaped groove formed in its undcr side, a plate permanently secured in position underneath the plate on the end of the rail, a dovetail flange on said lower plate fitting the groove in the upper plate, and the ends of the upper plate beveled in all directions from the edges of the groove, whereby a chisclshaped edge is presented to each side of the flange by the ends of the groove-plate,substantially as and for the purpose herein specilied.

G. In combination with a movable rail of a railway-switch, a semicircular flange -plate secured to the under side of the end of the rail and projecting beyond the end thereof, and having an outwardly and downwardly sloping beveled edge, a chair upon which the converging ends of the fixed rails oithe track are supported, the said chair having a recess underneath the end of the converging rails of the same form as the flange and into which the same is adapted to lit, and a pivot in the common center of the flange-plate and recess, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

7. In combination with a movable rail in a railway switch, a semicircular flange plate adapted to turn in a similar-shaped recess in the chair upon which the converging ends of the fixed rails of the track are mounted, the said recess being underneath the ends of the converging rails, a pivot passing through the center of the said flange and recess, a plate upon the under side of the opposite end ofthe movable rail having a dovetailshaped curved groove in the under side thereof, and a plate permanently fixed underneath the said groove plate and having an upwardly extending flange of a form to lit the groove, the center of curvature of the said flange and groove being the pivot upon which the opposite end of the rail turns, substantially as and for the pun pose herein specified.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

cnAnLEs n. DAVIS. [1,. s]

"Wi tn esses:

Mains MAG-nine, P. J. Maeurnn. 

